All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has selected a shadow Test team for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour clash against the Sharks in Durban on Tuesday.
Rennie has made sweeping changes following Friday’s 38-21 victory against the Stormers in Cape Town, with several players expected to feature prominently in the four-Test series against the Springboks coming into the starting XV.
Luke Jacobson will captain the All Blacks for the first time, shifting to No 8 after playing openside flank during the Nations Championship. He forms an all-Chiefs loose trio with Wallace Sititi at openside flank and Tupou Vaa’i at blindside.
“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team against the Sharks,” Rennie said. “He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions.”
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Kyle Preston gets an opportunity at scrumhalf as he looks to challenge Cortez Ratima for the role of Cam Roigard’s Test understudy. Roigard, meanwhile, is set to make his first appearance of the tour from the bench.
Ruben Love starts at flyhalf alongside Damian McKenzie at fullback, while Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea resume their midfield partnership. Caleb Clarke returns on the left wing.
Up front, Ethan de Groot, Asafo Aumua and Fletcher Newell form a powerful front row, with Sam Darry and Josh Lord packing down in the second row.
Two more players could make their All Blacks debuts, with hooker Bradley Slater and No 8 Semisi Ta’eiloa named among the replacements.
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Rennie expects another physical examination after the Stormers kept the scores level at 14-14 until the 66th minute of the tour opener.
“The opening match gave the players a real introduction to the way that South African teams play and the Sharks will be no different,” he said.
“With a short turnaround between games, today has been a big day of preparation. There is a lot of excitement in the group, with the majority of the squad about to play their first game of the tour.”
ALL BLACKS – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Luke Jacobson (c), 7 Wallace Sititi, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Bench: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.
SHARKS TEAM: Nonu to tackle All Blacks
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
